腰眼 : Yaoyan : Lumbar Eyes

Location Guides:

Classifications:

Trigger point (Travell & Simons, 1998, Trigger Point Manual)

Location:

In the depression approximately 3.5 cun lateral to the lower border of L4 (Yaoyangguan Du-3). Lumbar eyes refers to the visible hollows found in many people, just over one handbreadth either side of the spine, below the level of the iliac crest.

Needling:

Perpendicular insertion 1 - 1.5 cun

TCM Actions:

Strengthens the Kidneys and benefits the lumbar region

TCM Indications:

• Kidney deficiency lumbar pain, lumbar pain, consumption.

Neuroanatomy:

Superficial Innervation: Dorsal rami of L1 - L3

Dermatome Segment: S2

Trigger Point Associations:

Muscle:
Gluteus medius

Location Notes:
There are two further trigger points for this muscle located anteriorly just under the iliac spine

Pain Referral Pattern:
To buttock, hip and sacrum

Indications:
Pain on walking

Martial Applications & Effects of Injury:

See Montaigue, Dim Mak Locations, Taijiworld.com for explanation of effects.

Major Combinations:

• Lumbar pain:
    Seven cones of moxa on Yaoyan Ex-BW-7
    (Zhou Hou Ge, 肘後歌, Song to Keep Up Your Sleeve. First recorded in Gao Wu, 高武, 1529: Zhen Jiu Yu Jing, 針灸聚英, Glorious Anthology of Acupuncture and Moxibustion).

Notes:

In Thai massage:
Point along the outer Kalatharee sen line running from the lateral malleolus, up the sides of the leg, along the outer bladder channel, over the shoulder blade and down to the hands.
Indicated for back, hip and sacroiliac joint pain/injury/arthritis, menstruation difficulties, PMS and reproductive system ailments.
(Salguero & Roylance, 2011, Encyclopedia of Thai Massage)

Reference Notes:

Basic information on location, needle depth, TCM actions, indications and combinations is taken from Deadman et al (2001): A Manual of Acupuncture with additional anatomical information researched by reference to Gray's Anatomy (38th Ed., 1995) unless otherwise referenced. Images were found on acupunctureschoolonline.com and can be traced back to Claudia Focks (2008) Atlas of Acupuncture originally. I cannot claim any credit or rights over them. Other sources should be quoted in the text.

For some of the more unusual terms I have created a glossary here